Public health
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Diarrhoeal disease is a major cause of death in children in the developing world. In developing countries a quarter of infant and childhood mortality is related to diarrhoea. The World Health Organization started the Diarrhoeal Disease Control Programme (CDD) in 1980 with the objective to decrease diarrhoeal mortality and morbidity among young children in developing countries. ⋯ The message of ORS has penetrated into the general population well, but the practices of health professionals have not changed. To improve the situation further, training of health workers in correct case management is needed. Paediatric forms of symptomatic antidiarrhoeal drugs should also be withdrawn from the market.